Ayurvedic Evening Rituals to Ensure Your Beauty Sleep

3. Pranayama 

Breathing techniques like Alternate Nostril Breathing, or Anuloma Viloma, are simple yet profound breathing exercises that can literally be done anywhere and help to quickly balance and relax movement in the mind. Pranayama can be stimulating or calming, so make sure you choose a breathing practice grounding to the nervous system. We recommend trying Anuloma Viloma, also known as Nadi Shodhana, or a slow, mindful belly breath.

4. Practice Asana 

Resting and forward folding postures like Bālāsana (child’s pose), Paschimottanasana (seated forward fold) or Supta Baddha Konasana (reclining butterfly) can relieve tension in the body and relax the mind, especially when practiced before bed. Just like pranayama, asanas can be both activating or grounding. Be sure to stick to postures calming the nervous system for your nighttime practice. If you are feeling called to attend an evening yoga class, yin and restorative yoga are ideal.

5. Meditate 

Meditation is a beneficial tool for letting the mind let go of any stress from the day while cultivating inner joy and peace. Try listening to a guided Yoga Nidra meditation to help the body and mind drift off to sleep. Journaling can also be a helpful way to move thoughts out of the mind. Try writing down 5 things that you are grateful for to end each day on a positive note.

6. Take a Candlelit Bath 

Romance yourself! Steep your body into a luxurious organic Coconut Milk Bath made with Himalayan salt, Epsom salt, turmeric, rose, lavender and cardamom to ease your mind, relax your body and soften your skin. You can also try adding essential oils of Lavender, Jasmine or Cedarwood when drawing your bath to further heighten your relaxing, aroma-therapeutic experience, and get your body and mind in the mood for sleep.

7. Incorporate The Abhyanga Ritual 

Oil the body through the practice of Abhyanga, a traditional Ayurvedic self-massage offered with warm oil to cleanse the lymphatic system, calm the nervous system and hydrate the skin. This loving ritual is traditionally offered in the mornings but can also be a beautiful way to nourish and ground yourself, relieving any tension leftover from your busy day. Pair with your evening bath by offering it to yourself before or after your soak in the tub. Use slow, long, heavy strokes and calming herbal-infused body oils to support your ultimate sleep goals.

8. Love Your Feet 

Massaging oil into your feet at night can not only help to relieve the stress from your day, but the bottoms of your feet are also major absorption points of the body, making them excellent for applying grounding, resinous essential oils like Jatamansi, Vetiver or Sandalwood to help promote sound sleep.

9. Pamper Your Pores 

Washing your face at night should be as much of a priority as brushing your teeth. It is essential to remove any makeup, dirt, debris or unwanted energy from the day. Going to bed with a clean face will support the longevity and health of the skin while also allowing your pores to breathe deep and rest with ease. Try one of our Cleansers & Masks or full Skincare Rituals.

10. Go to Bed at the Same Time Every Night 

Preferably before or around 10 pm is ideal. Ayurveda believes that the doshas govern specific times of the day. At 10 pm pitta hours start to kick in; therefore, it is best to tuck yourself into bed before the motivated energy of pitta activates and you find yourself caught up in your second wind. This is also a pertinent time for the body to purify and repair itself from the day so that you can begin tomorrow feeling restored and renewed. Having a set sleep schedule will also allow your body to get into a healthy circadian rhythm, allowing it to internally know when it is time to wind down and hit the hay.

Although tempting, resist immediately incorporating this entire list tonight, as you don’t want to overwhelm your evening. Remember, this is about relaxing the body, not pushing yourself to do more in your day. Start by choosing just a few practices to infuse into your night. Once you have taken a liking to a practice and it becomes a non-negotiable part of your evening routine, like brushing your teeth, consider adding on more. You may find that you only need to incorporate a few suggestions or slowly want to weave in more. Get creative and start with the routines that you feel called to do. Soon, your Ayurvedic evening rituals will guarantee you not only catching adequate ZZZs but also have you falling asleep, looking and feeling like a queen.